On the Calendar

Thoughts from InvestorsGrow:

This Mornings Jobs Numbers: Initial jobless claims came in at 227,000 for the week ending Feb. 7, versus 222,000 expected, and down from 232,000 the prior week (revised). Continuing claims (people still getting benefits after the first week) rose to 1.862 million, up about 21,000, which hints it may be taking a bit longer to find the next job. For markets, a slightly softer labor read can cool rate fears, which often helps growth stocks and other rate-sensitive areas like housing and smaller companies. If claims keep drifting up over a few weeks, it can lean on consumer-facing names like retail, travel, and restaurants, and it can raise worry about credit stress for banks and lenders. For now, these levels still point to a steady jobs market, so the bigger swing factor is still inflation data coming next.

Tomorrow’s CPI is the main event. Think of it like a “price tag scan” for the whole country. If it comes in hotter than forecast, markets may start pricing in fewer rate cuts, and both stocks and bonds can get jumpy. If it comes in cooler, markets often relax, like someone finally turned the fan on.

Also keep an eye on core CPI (CPI with food and energy removed). That’s a cleaner read on underlying inflation trends, and it’s a measure the Fed and markets watch closely. Jobless claims and home sales are smaller headlines, but they help answer two big questions: are people still working, and can they still buy homes at these rates?

Tonight’s earnings can still move markets, too. Coinbase is tied to crypto mood swings, and Instacart is a quick read on how people are spending on “needs” versus “nice-to-haves.” Focus on guidance, because a great past quarter can still drop if the road ahead looks foggy.

Industry Spotlight

Hydrogen

Hydrogen can store energy and later make power, like an off-grid battery in gas form. The industry includes “electrolyzers” (machines that split water into hydrogen) and fuel cells that turn hydrogen back into electricity. It matters because many big users want cleaner fuel without losing reliability.

Power demand is rising fast, while new grid wires and permits move slowly. That is why on-site fuel cells are getting a fresh look, and why Europe is eyeing rules to guard local makers as China scales cheap hardware. As a pulse check, an ETF, the Global X Hydrogen ETF (HYDR), is up about 2% over the last five trading days. Theme ETFs can swing, since a few stocks steer the ship.

Bloom Energy (BE):

Bloom sells solid oxide fuel cells that make on-site power for data centers and large buildings. Its edge is modular adds, so customers can scale power in chunks. Its new outlook kept the “power now” story alive, but new rivals are circling.

Plug Power (PLUG):

Plug makes fuel cells and hydrogen gear, and it aims to build an end-to-end hydrogen setup. Its edge is its long base in warehouse fleets, where uptime is everything. The risk is cash burn, since this build-out is not cheap.

Air Liquide (AI.PA):

Air Liquide is a global industrial gas leader that produces and moves hydrogen for refineries and factories. Its edge is scale, since plants and pipes are hard to copy fast. Watch project timing, which can slip if power costs stay high or rules shift.

InvestorsGrow Takeaway:

Watch long-term rates like the 10-year Treasury yield, since hydrogen projects need lots of upfront cash. Two numbers to watch are backlog and gross margin. A red flag we need to watch for is delayed projects, which can turn growth stories into “maybe later” and can really hurt the stock. If rates rise while backlog slows, expect hydrogen stocks to cool.

Company Spotlight

Cisco Systems (CSCO)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) sells the hardware and software that moves data around the internet, offices, and data centers. Think of it like the traffic lights and on-ramps that keep everyone’s data from turning into a rush-hour pileup.

In the last 24 hours, Cisco posted results and raised its fiscal 2026 revenue outlook to $61.2 billion to $61.7 billion. The catch was margins: its adjusted gross margin (company-adjusted profit slice after direct costs) came in at 67.5%, a bit light versus expectations. Shares fell about 7% after hours and were down about 1%.

Zoom out and the mood is still bright. The stock is up about 34% over the past 12 months, and it is roughly 7% above its dot-com era closing peak from March 2000. That says investors have warmed back up to Cisco’s growth plan.

The fuel is artificial intelligence, which is driving a data-center buildout. Cisco expects more than $3 billion of AI infrastructure revenue in fiscal 2026, and it beat sales estimates this quarter with $15.35 billion in revenue. But higher memory-chip costs pinched margins, and rivals like Arista Networks and Broadcom keep pricing tough.

Next, watch whether gross margin steadies and whether AI-related orders keep climbing. If costs cool and big cloud buyers keep buying, then stronger sales can turn into stronger earnings; if not, Cisco may sell more gear but keep less of the profit.

InvestorsGrow Takeaway:

Cisco is trying to turn the AI spending wave into steady growth, and the market is now checking its math on costs. Upside is more AI network wins and more software and service sales to its huge customer base. Red flags are sticky part costs and a slowdown in data-center spend. If AI demand stays firm while margins stop sliding, the next leg up gets easier.